A CITIZEN'S BLOG

Here are the Phils stats, as of June 18, 2004:

GPA
Thome: .352
Abreu: .331
Burrell: .301
Bell: .266
Lieberthal: .244
Rollins: .244
Polanco: .231
Utley: .230
Byrd: .210
Glanville: .180
Ledee: .344
[(1.8 * .OBP + .SLG) / 4 = .GPA]

Little surprise that Thome continues to lead the Phils in GPA: the man hits home runs like a machine and walks more than a health nut.


ISO / SecAvg
Thome: .360 / .519
Abreu: .271 / .560
Burrell: .203 / .392
Bell: .157 / .290
Lieberthal: .175 / .230
Byrd: .080 / .160
Rollins: .100 / .215
Polanco: .103 / .178
Utley: .215 / .234
Glanville: .045 / .167
Ledee: .296 / .451

[.SLG - .BA = .ISO ; (TB – H + BB + SB –CS) / AB = .SecAvg]

The Phils leadoff guys continue to disappoint: in the last week Rollins went ten-for-thirty-three (.303 BA); but he walked just once, so his impressive BA comes attached with a .324 OBP. In that same period of time Abreu drew seven walks. Bell, Burrell and Thome had four.

Marlon Byrd, meanwhile went four for eighteen and whiffed four times without a walk. I had high hopes for him, but as the season wears on, I’m beginning to lose hope for him.

A word about Lieberthal:

I’m enormously worried that his career is on a quick decline. Catchers generally tend to wear down in their careers at a certain point (which is why Craig Biggio moved out from behind the plate and why Mike Piazza should, as should Jason Kendall), and they wear down at the end of the season in general. Lieberthal is already off to a lousy start in ’04 and I worry that he has reached the apex of his career:

GPA
2004: .244
2003: .281
2002: .268

Lieberthal has never been the Phils No. 1 weapon, but he has always been a solid and consistent performer, which is why his mediocre play is a source of concern. Good catchers are hard to find.